In July 2016, the State Parks and Recreation Commission adopted a Statewide Park Acquisition and Development Strategy for the agency to guide its acquisition and development of new state parks, and its redevelopment of existing state parks. The overarching goal of the strategy is for Washington's state parks to be recognized as the collection of places and experiences that are distinctly Washington. In other words, the places you would take someone to show them what Washington really is. To achieve this goal, the strategy says the state park system should include:
- Places to be: Connecting people with Washington's iconic landscapes
- Stories to know: Engaging people in authentic Washington stories
- Things to do: Providing Washington's recreational mainstays
- Ways to grow: Inviting novices to experience Washington's outdoors
- Something for everyone: Improving the quality of life for all Washingtonians